In the hybrid workplace, incorporating user convenience and experience into how employees and tenants access buildings is a top concern for security professionals.
The number of phishing scams, cyberattacks, data breaches, and crypto thefts in 2022 has already set a record. Additionally, hacktivism has increased, in which state-sponsored cyber legions have defaced websites, launched DDoS attacks, and stolen information from critical infrastructure and services.
It is not difficult to envision a record year for cybercrime in 2023. In its 2023 Top Security Trends Report, Brivo, cloud-based access control and intelligent building technologies provider, has identified user experience and convenience as rapidly emerging drivers for adopting new physical security solutions.
As more millennials and Gen-Zers enter the workforce, the report shows a general increase in convenience as a major factor in physical security and rising expectations for seamless workplace access.
User convenience will be a priority
A key takeaway from the 2023 trends report is that user experience and convenience are crucial for security professionals today. This trend shows no signs of slowing down as more Generation Z cohorts enter the workplace expecting a seamless, technology-enabled approach. User comfort will be a priority. “Cloud access control collects the most valuable data for security professionals to make more informed business decisions,” says Steve Van Till, founder, and CEO of Brivo. To deliver the next generation of access solutions and meet stakeholder expectations for convenience, access control must be integrated with other security and proptech platforms.
Also Read: Four Best Practices CISOs should Adopt for Hybrid Workplace
Applications for the workplace
Tenant and workplace applications are getting more and more popular. Respondents said that this year, they were the fifth most popular security system integration. Through mobile services, these applications give employees more control over their office space. Cloud security applications that simplify the lives of security professionals include outsourced oversight responsibilities, instant credential management, and remote door management. This demonstrates that security professionals value the convenience of working independently.
A rise in integrations with access control
The respondents mentioned a rise in integrations with access control. As more and more businesses seek to increase protection by connecting physical and digital security systems, integrations of IAM solutions are becoming increasingly common. The user experience is essential to access control, according to 84% of security professionals. Mobile access control’s growing popularity as an alternative to the conventional plastic FOB is evidenced by the fact that 65 percent of respondents cited user convenience as a benefit. Due to various cost-effective security systems, people are increasingly inclined to use access control, expanding the market. In addition, the rise in urbanization and the preference for wireless and IoT-based security systems will likely drive the access control market’s expansion in the coming years. The growing demands for data security and cyber intrusion are the primary drivers of market expansion.
Cybersecurity centralization
38% of organizations say they are partially centralized today, up from 31% in the 2022 report. This indicates that more businesses are attempting to centralize their security. According to responses elsewhere in the report, data collection and system integration are today’s business requirements. Security professionals will continue to integrate cybersecurity systems with other departments. Still, access data is increasingly being used to understand trends in access and space usage (45%), identify and prioritize unusual activity (42%), and add value to supply chain, process, and HR departments.
However, there are specific barriers to achieving that. Steve Van says, “Cloud-based solutions are critical to security centralization and, as our Trends Report finds, barriers remain when it comes to their adoption. Specifically, a lack of budget struggles to demonstrate return on investment (ROI) and departmental misalignment prevent further uptake of modern physical security technologies.”
To overcome these hurdles, security professionals need to get all decision-makers on board with the value proposition of these solutions. This could entail demonstrating where cloud-based access control simplifies business processes to ease access experiences for users, addressing doubts about the security or reliability of cloud-based solutions, or explaining the massive cost savings these solutions drive. Security professionals already see the value of interoperable, cloud-based security tools that simplify their lives.
Cloud Acceleration
Edge Computing Security professionals have been slower than other industries to adopt cloud technology. Still, they are doing so more quickly because they understand how important it is to meet new business needs. Improved remote management, video-sharing capabilities, space-saving devices, and integrated cybersecurity are just a few of the advantages of the Cloud. In hybrid environments, having the capability to manage access and security systems from a distance is especially useful. Additionally, automatic updates are provided by the Cloud to guarantee that you always have the most recent security patches and product enhancements. According to the company, cloud systems provide encryption, monitoring, and two-factor authentication, making it harder for hackers to access information. Adding edge computing (inside the device) to the company’s cloud-based biometrics solution speeds up authentication and ensures secure access when cloud assets are unavailable. But is there a more affordable way for organizations to implement cloud-based access control solutions? What are the other alternatives?
Steve says enterprises should take a long view regarding access control and affordability. Access control solutions are implemented with security in mind, but users reap many long-term ancillary cost-saving benefits. These include reduced staff overheads and other on-premises expenditures, such as reduced energy costs associated with maintaining and cooling servers and the ability to make energy-saving decisions by harnessing the data these solutions capture.
While some costs are attached to setting up a cloud-based access control solution, the overall cost of ownership is significantly reduced compared to alternatives due to these cost-saving benefits. Moreover, open platforms don’t require security professionals to rip and replace existing IoT – readers, panels, locks – to take advantage of the Cloud. This gives the option of implementation at a lower cost. This cost rises when businesses implement systems requiring more wholesale rip and replace.
Also Read: Thousands of websites hijacked through compromised FTP credentials
Securing the hybrid workplace of the future
Steve said,” We believe that the hybrid workforce is here to stay, which means enterprises need to get on top of the new normal regarding their office’s space utilization, energy usage, peak times, and more. A simple lock on a door is no longer enough – security professionals require tools that collect data about their premises to improve decision-making and security policies and procedures. Hybrid workers expect convenient access to their offices, which also drives a shift in thinking around physical security. Our trends report shows that convenience is now a primary value proposition for digital access control solutions. This trend will likely only grow as more digitally native, millennial, and Gen Z cohorts enter the workplace.”
These trends show that modern cyber defenses must be adaptable and flexible in dealing with old and new threats. Cyber security must be able to adapt to threats. For cloud hosting and applications, SMBs need security-focused partners to keep their boundaries and reduce risk in the coming year and beyond.
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